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Information from Your Family Doctor

Insomnia: How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Am Fam Physician. 2005 Oct 1;72(7):1309-1310.

What is insomnia?

People who have insomnia (say: “in-SOM-nee-uh”) may not be able to fall asleep. They may wake up at night and not be able to fall back asleep, or they may wake up too early in the morning.

Many things can cause insomnia, such as stress, too much caffeine, depression, changes in work shifts, and pain from medical problems.

Is insomnia a serious problem?

Insomnia is not a serious health problem. But it can make you feel tired, depressed, and grumpy. It also can make it hard to concentrate during the day.

How much sleep do I need?

Most adults need about seven to eight hours of sleep each night. You’re getting enough sleep if you don’t feel tired during the day. The amount of sleep you need stays about the same throughout adulthood. But sleep patterns may change with age. Older people may sleep less at night and take naps during the day.

What can my doctor do to find out why I’m not sleeping?

Your doctor will ask you and your bed partner about your sleep habits (such as when you go to bed and when you wake up). Tell your doctor about any medicine you take and how much caffeine and alcohol you drink. Your doctor also may ask if you smoke.

Other questions may include how long you’ve been having trouble sleeping, if you have any pain, and if you snore. Your doctor may also ask about problems in your life that may be upsetting you and making it hard for you to sleep.

If the cause of your insomnia is not clear, your doctor may want you to keep a sleep diary. The diary will help you keep track of when you go to bed, how long you lie in bed before falling asleep, how often you wake up during the night, when you get up in the morning, and how well you sleep.

How is insomnia treated?

Treating insomnia can be easy. Once the problem that’s causing the insomnia is taken care of, the insomnia usually goes away. The key is to find out what is causing the insomnia. Just making a few changes in their sleep habits helps many people.

What can I do to improve my sleep habits?

Here are some things you can do to help you sleep better:

Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, including weekends, even if you didn’t get enough sleep. This will help train your body to sleep at night.

Get into a bedtime routine. Do the same thing every night before going to sleep. For example, take a warm bath and then read for 10 minutes every night before going to bed. Soon these things will help make you sleepy.

Use the bedroom only for sleeping and having sex. Don’t eat, talk on the telephone, or watch television while you’re in bed.

Make sure your bedroom is quiet and dark. If noise is a problem, use a fan to cover the noise or use earplugs. If you must sleep during the day, hang dark blinds over the windows or wear an eye mask.

If you’re still awake after trying to fall asleep for 30 minutes, get up and go to another room. Sit quietly for about 20 minutes, then go back to bed. Do this as many times as you need to until you can fall asleep.

Will sleeping pills help?

Sleeping pills can help some people, but they are not a “cure.” Sleeping pills should be used only for a few days. Using them longer can make your insomnia come back. Sleeping pills can be dangerous for people with certain health problems. Talk to your doctor before you take any medicine to help you sleep.